The Free Lance-Star
PRINCE WILLIAM COUNTY, Va. — Prince William County firefighters Joseph Smith and Bobby Cook say firefighting and the craft beer world have something in common: both are a brotherhood.
So, when the friends and firefighters discovered they both have a love for craft beer and homebrewing, they instantly formed a bond.
The two are now planning to open a brewery together that combines their passions. Cook and Smith hope to open Maltese Brewing Co., which will have a firefighting theme, early next year and which will be located at 11047 Pierson Drive, Suite B, in Spotsylvania County.
Smith has been homebrewing for about 10 years, and Cook for the past three. Both said they got homebrewing kits as gifts, and they were hooked. They started with the basics, and then gradually moved on to more advanced techniques.
First, they brewed in 5-gallon batches, and then moved up to a pilot system with 15 gallons. For their brewery, they will use a 55-gallon system.
When they open, they expect to have four beers on tap in the tasting room, and eventually have seasonal and special batches.
Their regular beers will be:
Fireman’s Blonde: a smooth, crisp, well-balanced and light-bodied beer that’s approachable and highly drinkable
Hops & Hose IPA: a hoppy, citrusy, floral, medium-bodied beer that’s smooth with resinous aromas sure to please hop fans
Fire Pale Nut Brown Ale: a sweet, malty, nutty, medium-bodied beer with hints of caramel
Shut Out Chocolate Stout: a chocolaty, malty, smooth, full-bodied beer that is creamy, silky and full in your mouth.
The pair said they picked those four beers because they were their best homebrews.
“It’s what people like to drink,” Cook said.
“Those are what we keep going back to drink,” Smith said.
Cook and Smith said they were embraced by the brewing community. They said they spoke to the guys at Rusty Beaver Brewery in Ruther Glen, Adventure Brewing Co. in Stafford County and Center of the Universe Brewing Co. in Ashland.
They said they initially saw everyone as competition, but once they met them, that idea went away.
However, they think that their brewery will have a unique twist.
“Our theme is different,” Cook said.
Along with educating people about craft beer, they want to tell people about firefighting.
They picked the Maltese cross as a play on the word “malt,” an ingredient used in beer, and for the Maltese cross, which represents their firefighting passion.
It has four sides: they represent courage, bravery, compassion and loyalty to duty.
They plan to do the work themselves with the help of friends.
They said they plan to keep the brewery a hobby, and keep their jobs in the fire department. Any money they make from the brewery will go back to the brewery.
The pair plans to attend Fredericksburg Brewfest on Oct. 18 and sell merchandise, but they’re not quite ready to give away their beer.
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